Jesus (salvation) is the real gift to the world

Luke 2:11  The angel declared “I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people, for today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord”

Savior means “one who brings salvation”

A Savior has been born to us. He is Christ the Lord. Christmas time is a time to celebrate Jesus. It is the season to put into remembrance of who Jesus is and how He came into the world as the Savior.

To understand the full scope of salvation that God has provided for us in Jesus, we need to understand what Jesus' name means.

Matthew 1:21- And she will have a son, and you will name Him Jesus (The Lord is salvation) for He will save people from their sins. Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Yeshua “the Lord saves”

So Jesus name means "The Lord who is salvation" or the one who saves.

Salvation comes from the Greek word Sozo which means (to save, to rescue, to be healed, to be delivered, made well, to be cured, be made whole, preserved). Everytime "sozo" is used, it means this is a part of what God has provided in Jesus the Savior. This is the great all-inclusive salvation that Jesus brings.

Jesus is salvation and these are 5 ways that Jesus "saves us"

Jesus can save (rescue) us from the penalty of sin which is eternal separation from God- at Calvary He paid the price for our sins as the (sacrificial lamb of God) and His shed blood satisfies the requirement of God to atone for sins.

In Acts 16:30 The jailer asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved (sozoed)?” and Paul and Silas said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved (sozoed)” The word “believe” is pisteuo which means “to believe, puts ones faith in, trust, with an implication that actions based on that trust will follow (obedience). When we put our trust in Jesus that he died on the cross, was buried, and rose again from the dead we are are saved from the penalty of sin which is eternal separation from God and we are made righteous. Only Jesus can do this.

Jesus can save (deliver) us from demons- In Luke 8:26-39 There was a man filled with demons (demons were influencing the man, they didn’t own him or fully control him)

In verse 36 The man who had been under the power of demons was delivered (sozoed) from demonic oppression which affected him mentally and physically. Jesus saved the man from spiritual enemies (demons). In 2003 I went through a powerful deliverance and Jesus saved me from addiction to alcohol and in 2009 I went through a powerful deliverance and was delivered from bondage to sexual sin as Jesus drove many demons out of me. Only Jesus can do this.

Jesus can save us (heal) us from sickness/diseases. In Luke 8:40-48 there was a woman who had suffered for 12 years of bleeding and could find no cure. She was healed by Jesus as she touched his garment. In verse 48 Jesus said, “Daughter, your faith has made you well (sozoed). Go in peace” It wasn’t saving of her soul but the healing of her body as well. In 2011, my father was miraculously healed of stage 4 cancer after myself and two other men from a church I attended went to lay hands upon him to pray for healing. The Lord spoke to me several months later “Go in peace, your father is made whole” Only Jesus can do this.

Jesus can save us (resurrect) us from death back to life. In Luke 8:49-50 a little girl was raised from the dead. In verse 50 Jesus said, Don’t be afraid. Just have faith. And she will be healed (sozoed). She was raised back to life and saved from premature death. There are countless testimonies throughout the earth of people being raised from the dead that have been verified. Only Jesus can do this.

Jesus can save us (protect) us from circumstances and every evil work. In 2 Timothy 4:18 Paul said, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom." “Bring me safely” in Greek is “will save (sozo) me”  So, its God’s ongoing preservation as well from the storms of life, attacks of the enemy, and all calamity. The Lord spoke this to me several years ago and said, "I watch your backside" I knew that this meant he protects me from things I couldn't see or realize. Only Jesus can do this.

This is why we worship Jesus because only He Himself brings salvation. He can save us from sin, He can deliver us from demons, He can heal us of sickness/diseases, He can raise us back to life, and He can protect us from danger and calamity.

Pastor Rafe Ronning

A Prayer:

In this Christmas season, we thank you and praise you Jesus for bringing salvation. You are salvation. How awesome is your salvation. You have prepared total provision for me for every need now and in eternity. Blessed are you, glorious Savior Jesus.

www.truthandfreedomchurch.com